Support for spherical container



vNlaich 11, 1947. l H, Q BOARDMN 2,417,053

SUPPORT FOR SPHERICAL CONTAINER Filed June 50, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 /1 Y 2 w w @v #MKM 3 \\xy/ au` 4 y u, 0%

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figg (i Patented Mar. 11, 1947 UNITED SUPPORT FOR SPHERICAL CONTAINER Harry C. Boardman, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, a corporation of Illinois Application June 30, 1944, Serial No. 542,993

This invention relates to a support for a spherical container.

The invention is an improvement on the structure set forth in my Patent 1,953,949, issued April 10, 1934. The invention is especially applicable in connection with spherical containers adapted to contain fluids under pressure, for example, spheres holding compressed gas. Sheet metal spherical gas containers are subject to considerable expansion and contraction due to thermal and pressure variations. Owing to this expansion and contraction of the container, difficulty has been encountered in supporting the same.

In the form of support shown in Patent 1,95?,- 949 a plurality of supports were provided which were unconnected and independent. The upper ends 0f the supports were attached to the container at points lying substantially in a horizontal plane in which plane the container was subjected to considerable thermal and pressure expansion and contraction, while the lower ends of the supports rested on suitable independent foundations. The unconnected supports themselves had sufficient longitudinal strength to serve as columns in supporting the sphere and sufcient length and transverse flexibility to permit pressure and thermal expansion and contraction in the plane of attachment of the supports.

The present improvement is designed to permit gas holding spheres of the type disclosed in said patent to be tested under hydrostatic pressure while full of water. The present invention also permits the gas holders to be used as water containers if desired. It is primarily intended for strengthening the container to permit hydrostatic testing.

'I'he present invention provides an improved foundation for such supports in the form of a compression ring to which the lower ends of the supports are secured.

In a modied form of the invention the supports are interconnected to form a skirt in the form of a frustum of an inverted cone, the upper edge of which is tangent to the sphere, and the lower end of which rests on the compression ring.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a spherical container supported in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary detailed sectional elevation of a portion of the structure; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the modied form of the container embodying the frusto-conical support; and Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of a portion of the lower part of Figure 3.

2 Claims. (01..,220-1) As shown in the drawings, III indicates a spherical container, for example, one made of a. plurality of sheet metal plates welded o-r otherwise secured together and adapted to contain gas under pressure; Il indicates a plurality of unconnected and independent supports of the container, the upper ends I Ia of which are attached to the container at points lying substantially in a horizontal plane. The lower ends IIb thereof are secured to the compression ring I3 which in turn is mounted on a suitable foundation I4. The supports, as shown in Figure l, are triangulated by bringing the lower end of one support in each pair adjacent the contiguous member of the next pair and resting the same together on the compression ring. The upper ends of the supports are attached to the container at a point somewhat below the horizontal mid-section thereof, and the lower ends are drawn inwardly so that each support slants outwardly from its lower end to its upper end. As will be noted, the supports thus arranged define the outline of an inverted frustum of a cone and I have found that a structure of that form may be employed as illustrated in Figure 3. As there shown, the spherical container lll is supported by the inverted frustum of a cone IUI, the upper edge Illia of which is tangent to the sphere and is welded thereto along the edge. The lower edge IUIb of the frustum is secured to the upper edge of the compression ring IIJB. In this form of structure, as shown in Figure 4, the triangular space between the frustoconical skirt IUI and the base |94 of the sphere IUI) is hermetically sealed by a continuous radial plate IDS welded to the shell at IGS and to the skirt at IUT.

In assembling the structure illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the skirt is supplied as a unit or single plate, but openings are left therein directly opposite the meridian seams in the shell. The shell is then welded through these seams. After welding, these slots may be permanently closed with bar inserts as indicated at Hi8 0r by plates over the openings. The slots are not, however, essential, but are convenient.

In a container of this type, access is likewise provided by an opening under the foundation to the bottom of the sphere. In this way access may be obtained for welding the radial plate |05 in position. This plate serves to prevent corrosion in the narrow area above the plate where otherwise it would be difficult to paint.

It is understood of course that the principle of support by the skirt is somewhat different from that when the individual supports are unconnected. The skirt, at its point oi attachment, acts as a compression ring and restricts the expansion or contraction of the sphere. As a result, bulging or contraction, as the case may be, will occur adjacent the point of attachment of the skirt. The skirt is, however, suitably improved by the use of a compression ring on the foundation, as are the unconnected supports. Furthermore, the point of attachment of the skirt is preferably at substantially the same level as is the case in the unconnected supports.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.

What I claim as new, and desired to secure by that portion of the container intersected by said horizonta1 plane, with the lower ends of said supports being attached to said ring, said supports having suicient longitudinal strength to serve as columns in supporting the container and suici'ent length and transverse flexibility to permit said thermal and pressure expansion and contraction.

2. The spherical container of claim 1 wherein the supports are arranged n pairs with the lower ends of each pair adjacent. y

HARRY C. BOARDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,363,992 Reiser Nov. 28, 1944 1,958,421 Daniels May 15, 1934 1,953,949 Boardman Apr. 10, 1934 1,885,601 Horton Nov. 1, 1932 2,156,400 Pechstein May 2, 1939 2,295,514 Brinkman Sept. 8, 1942 

